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Holiday Reflection -- Thanksgiving Blessing

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people…

Galatians 6:10

I would have described this
Thanksgiving holiday as a normal one until I observed something unexpected in a
usually mundane place.

On Black Friday I only ventured
out late in the afternoon to the grocery store with some family members. Shopping
with the masses is just not my idea of a good time. While standing in the
checkout line we were privileged to witness an act of kindness for an elderly Asian
lady as we stood behind her.

The couple in line in front of
her had come prepared to shop, they had coupons for everything including some
sets of storage bowls with lids. The elderly lady asked some questions about
the bowls. Even with her quiet broken English she managed to convey how much
she would like to have some. As the couple paid for their purchases and started
to leave, they turned around and gave one of the boxes of storage bowls to the
lady. “Here, this is for you. It’s a gift,” they said.

The lady was so moved that she
could barely speak. She did manage to utter thanks with tears in her eyes. When
she left the line, our teenage cashier burst into the biggest smile you had
ever seen. He was ecstatic. He told us that he wished he had a video of what we
witnessed so he could show his mom that things like that really did happen in
his line. His contagious enthusiasm warmed our hearts all the more as we
thought about what we had seen.

I could not get over how one
couple’s random act of kindness cast a spell of joy over all who had witnessed
it. We left the grocery store chattering about what had happened and with
grateful hearts toward total strangers.

I do not know if the people who
gave so willingly knew Jesus, but I’d like to think that they did. What a
wonderful lesson they provided for us. They obviously had planned ahead about
what they were going to buy, and yet, they altered their plan and gave so
willingly.

God, thank you so
much for chance encounters which teach us so much about gratefulness and unconditional
love.